Customer Reviews

The Lonesome Touch

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this CD by mistake a couple of years ago, listened to it once, thought "Oh, well, it's not what I was looking for," and put it aside. Recently I came across it again and decided to give it another hearing, and it rapidly vaulted into the position of Favorite CD. Hayes is (of course) a superb fiddler -- I also own and like "Under the Moon." But Cahill's subtle guitar accompaniment contributes immensely to bringing out the character of each tune, and I think the combination is magical. I'm especially fond of the tunes that embody the "lonesome touch" (e.g., "The Old Bush/The Reel with the Burl" -- the latter is a West of Ireland variant of the popular "Drowsy Maggie," my favorite Irish tune), but the whole album is solid. (Hayes tends to tap his toes and move as he's playing, and some of this comes through on the recording, but I don't find it obtrusive; it's what you'd hear in any County Clare pub. As for the "tape hiss" that another reviewer complained about, I don't hear it -- could it be HIS stereo?)

I bought his albums (Lonesome Touch was the best) after hearing him in West Virginia one night when he and his partner arrived 2 hours late for a performance (lost on the Interstate) -- everyone who stayed felt amply rewarded by his magical playing. He lives and breathes with the instrument and the listener is honored to be able to taste the music that results.

Beautiful, very soulful fiddling from Martin Hayes. Really amazing guitar backup from Dennis Cahill is what really made the disc shine for me. Cahill's inventiveness and harmonizations really fill out these tunes, and give a very full sound to the duo. Great stuff.

I bought this CD at the Traditional Music Shop in Doolin, County Clare, hopeful that I would like it. I have not been dissappointed in any way. The fiddle is clear and strong, and soft and peircing all at once. If you have a Celtic soul, this will speak volumes to you. I have felt many moods each time I listen to it. I wish I had more words that could really express the beauty involved in what "The Lonsome Touch" is. The liner notes state that Lonesome expresses sadness, struggle, or pain, and you hear it on this CD, but it isn't something that allows you to wallow, only to feel. As I said, it is a wonderful CD, and I highly reccommend it.

Perfection !!! That's what this musical partnership is. Martin plays the fiddle like no other - with heart and soul, incredible - just beautiful. Dennis' brilliant guitar accompaniment gently empowers the tunes to go one step further - the music that they bring about together is just a pleasure to listen to. The best yet. If you love Irish traditional music you will love this CD.

What a beautiful collection of pieces. Heartbreaking at times, but never maudlin -- the other side to break-neck Irish fiddling, quiet beauty and deep soul. This should be in every collection.

I bought the original copy in Doolin, Ireland, not knowing what I was getting but trusting the sales clerk that it was traditional fiddling. I was not the least bit disappointed in this. Discovering that these two musicians play frequently in nearby Seattle was a bonus!!
This is fabulous old style traditional fiddling, very worth buying.

This is the album I put on whenever I think about giving up on fiddle. Martin always brings me around. Superb and full of emotion. This is as good as it gets folks.

On first hearing, I have to say, I found the guitar of Dennis Cahill intrusive, and the pure Irish spirit of "Under the moon" and the son of P.J.Hayes seemed to me to have gone missing. Then I noticed that Dennis was actully playing bodhran and it all fell into place. The world would be a better place if track 11 were compulsory listening for every foetus from the moment it could tell its ears from its arse.

Cahill and Hayes bring the San Francisco Celtic Art and Music Festival to the Bay Area each March. They are a joy to see in concert and do us a great service bringing many talented Celtic artists to our area.